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From: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.movies
Subject: Re: best film score Oscars
Message-ID: <4407@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 20-Mar-85 00:41:45 EST
Article-I.D.: ucla-cs.4407
Posted: Wed Mar 20 00:41:45 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 24-Mar-85 05:48:18 EST
References: <167@ISM780.UUCP>
Reply-To: reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP (Peter Reiher)
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Lines: 34
Summary: 

In article <167@ISM780.UUCP> geoff@ISM780.UUCP writes:
>
>Well, I don't know about MOST movies.  The point of a film score, like the
>point of film lighting, and continuity editing etc, is NOT to be noticed.
>If you notice the music in film, it's WRONG 
...
>None of the elements
>of a film should stand out above the film itself, to do so is to distract
>the viewer from what the director is trying to say.  
>
I find this point of view rather narrow.  Firstly, you've just thrown out
any film that tries to work on any level other than the naturalistic, as
such films usually feature noticeable camerawork, editting, scores, etc.
Even assuming you're willing to consign such films to the abyss, I still
think you're going too far.  For scores, consider the effectiveness of an
often repeated, appropriate theme, such as that in "The Year of Living
Dangerously", "Ryan's Daughter", any adventure film of the thirties or
fourties.  Or fine music suitable to the mood of the piece, such as Elmer
Bernstein's score for "To Kill a Mockingbird".  Think about how much Marvin
Hamlisch's arrangements of Scott Joplin's rags contributed to "The Sting".  I 
think most people notice particularly beautiful photography, without necessarily
compromising the film.  I would hate to have to defend the statement that
Hitchcock's editing of the shower scene in "Psycho" was a mistake, or that
it was not noticeable.  Ditto Eisenstein's brilliant editing in "Potemkin".
How about the sets and costumes in "Gone With the Wind", which definitely
were noticed?

A film is more than plot.  Plot is just one element.  I think it narrow to 
say that plot and nothing else should be noticed.
-- 

        			Peter Reiher
        			reiher@ucla-cs.arpa
        			{...ihnp4,ucbvax,sdcrdcf}!ucla-cs!reiher